BeltonVacuum Tube Socket (VT9-PT-C) 9 Pin / Miniature, Micalex, Top Chassis Mount, w/ Shield Base

I really like these sockets but newer tubes are difficult (to say the least) to insert all the way because the bases aren’t wide enough. They work great for older and nos tubes tho

If you could do 4.5 stars I would, but I figured I'd give it a bit extra. The metal is almost imperceptibly thinner than shielded sockets from days of yore. The weight overall is a bit lighter, and it doesn't feel as secure as some of the old sockets from the 70s. Similarly, the solder lugs aren't as solid as the old ones. However, it grips the pins VERY tightly, and the modern shield cans as well as vintage shield cans fit on snugly, and once it's screwed tightly down to the chassis, the socket hardens up. Functionally, it's solid as they ever were, and does the job just as well as you would expect. The complaint that "they don't make them like they used to" only gets you so far, because complaining about it won't make it like they used to, and it ignores the fact that it's still more than "good enough."

The picture shown for the VT9-PT-C is actually the VT9-ST-C. The difference is that the PT-C is for mounting on a PCB and the ST-C is for mounting to a chassis. The difference is that the lugs on the PT-C do not have holes in them to attach wires to and also the PT-C has a guide pin that inserts into the PCB board. Amazon needs to fix the picture they show for this item!

better than ceramics not microphonic

I am not a fan of these 9-pin sockets. They are just too tight. When you install a tube it is hard to feel when it is aligned correctly. Try a different socket.